ICRA has announced it will support the further promotion of the Under 25 sailing keelboat teams, by paying the entry fee for any Under 25 Keelboat Team entering the Irish Sailing “Pathfinder Women at the Helm” event on the 17th/18th August.
ICRA has added the Pathfinder Women at the Helm event subsidy to a range of other actions the Committee has taken to promote and encourage participation in cruiser racing among under 25 age groups. Richard Colwell, ICRA Commodore commented, “Encouraging “Yacht Racing for All” is a core part of our mission and we are especially proud of the drive to encourage cruiser racing with those coming out of dinghies to help clubs provide a pathway to keep these sailors in the sport.”
ICRA has already this year, subsidised the entry costs to the event for eight-under 25 teams to take part in the ICRA nationals, which was a great success with teams travelled from Wicklow, Tralee, Foynes, Howth and the Dun Laoghaire clubs. As well as subsidising entry fees for the Under 25 teams, ICRA also provides access to funding for training initiatives and can provide support and advice to clubs looking to set up Under 25 teams.
As Afloat previously reported, the Pathfinder Women at the Helm event has been organised on the 17th/18th August, hosted by the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, in order to give all sailing women their own annual sailing goal and to set and encourage a move from shore to boat, crew to helm or club event to regional event. The event is open to PY Dinghy Racing and Keelboat Racing from Teens to Seniors. ICRA encourages all members to enter the event and have some fun, with the only proviso being that a woman needs to helm and 50% of the crew need to be women.
